HAPPY HOME LIFE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 22 July 1946, Page 2

HAPPY HOME LIFE

LADY FREYBERG TALKS TO MOTHERS PACKED TOWN HALL Wellington, July 17. “It is easy to get into the way of letting the home jobs overwhelm one, but is not so difficult to become a home drudge,” said Her Excellency Lady Freyberg yesterday, when addressing members of the League of Mothers at a victory thanksgiving meeting in the Town Hall. “There is a very narrow margin between a home drudge and home martyr, and then the trouble begins,” remarked Her Excellency. She recommended the planning of each day so that mothers might keep a little time for their own interests, reading, music, or art. Even if these interests were just kept “ticking over” through the busiest years of home-making, it was easier to continue latex* than to pick up dropped threads. “You, as mothers and home-makers, have filled your positions just as fine!/ as your soldiers and girls overseas.” said Lady Freyberg. On the voyage from England she had noticed that New Zealand husbands and fathers seemed very well accustomed to taking their share in looking after their babies. “I thinK, if they were typical, you mothers have done some very good training,” she added. She remembered how eagerly New Zealanders had volunteered to help the girls with washing up or sand-wich-making in the service clubs, with the ready excuse, “It makes it feel like home.” She had been struck by the practical ability of N-'.v Zealand! girls and the ready and capable way in which they had organised and run th?i»* departments. In this country she thought, men and women were brought up undex* exceptional conditions. TAKEN FOR GRANTED. Her Excellency said that if .she were asked what the war had taught her she would say it was Io count her blessings. So many things had been taken for granted, she said, even happy homes. She herself had had the good fortune to be brought up in a home “as happy as a fairy story,” and could look back on golden years of utmost interests and delights before the clouds of World War I. “I know and you know,” said Her Excellency, “that happy homes have to be built and maintained. They are founded on mutual love, trust, understanding and a sense of humour.”

Referring to the thanksgiving motive of the gathering, Her Excellency said that there was a quality in the British make-up which refused to be beaten, even in the darkest days. She recalled Mr. Churchill’s speeches which had “inspired, comforted and upheld in words which were among the greatest ever used in the English language.” The great, contribution of the New Zealand forces also, she thought, when the war history was written, would prove to be even greatei than was thought at this moment.

Her Excellency conveyed greetings from lhe Lady Alice Fergiuson, founder of the League of Mothers, whom she had visited in February when in Scotland to launch lhe Port Wellington.

Lady Freyberg referred to the fellowship of the League and the need for a steady intake of young mothers who brought “freshness, fun, and good ideas.” She concluded by washing the League great prosperity and success. The Town Hall, which was packed from floor Io ceiling with representatives of the League branches, including a large contingent from Wanganui, was charmingly decorated with flowers in red and white tones. Mrs. Leslie Wall, the Dominion president, welcomed Her Excellency and pinned on her membershin badge. Mrs. Wall also read a letter from the Lady Alice Fergusson, Mrs. Charles White reading the reply to be sent from the League.